Labile organic matter, aggregates, and stratification ratios in a semiarid vineyard with cover crops

Resumen

Under semiarid Mediterranean climatic conditions, scarce attention has been given to the utilization of permanent cover crops (PCCs) in vineyard agroecosystems to increase soil organic C (SOC) and to improve the sou quality. We evaluated the feasibility of two permanent cover crops (resident vegetation, RV, and 'Aurora gold' blue fescue [Festuca longifilia Thuill.] vegetation, FV) to increase SOC and to improve the soil quality with respect to conventional tillage in a semiarid vineyard. We studied the influence of these management practices on the labile organic matter fractions (particulate organic C [POC], potentially mineralizable N [PMN], and water-soluble C [WSC]), on the water aggregate stability (WAS) and on the stratification ratios (SRs) of these soil attributes. The field experiment was conducted on a fine-loamy, mixed, thermic Typic Haploxerept soil in a vineyard located in the La Rioja region (northeast Spain). Soil samples were collected from four soil layers (at depths of 0-2.5,2.5-5, 5-15, and 15-25 cm) during june 2008, 4 yr after cover crop establishment. The SOC content, POC, WSC, PMN, and WAS were measured. At a depth of 0 to 2.5 cm, the cover crops increased SOC, POC, WSC, PMN, and WAS. The C sequestration rates for RV and FV were 1.34 ± 0.31 and 1.52 ± 0.70 Mg ha -1 yr -1, respectively. Regression analyses indicated positive strong correlations among all parameters monitored. The SRs of the SOC, POC, and PMN were >2 in all depth ratios calculated and therefore were efficient indicators of the soil quality improvement caused by the PCCs. In a semiarid Mediterranean vineyard, a PCC has proven to be an effective strategy to enhance the SOC and to improve the soil quality in the short term. © Soil Science Society of America, 5585 Guilford Rd., Madison WI 53711 USA All rights reserved.